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What’s Happening Today. The House convenes for an 11 a.m. voting session. The Senate is back in session at 1 p.m.

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Top Story

1. Powerful Interests Poured $18M Into Top PA Lawmakers’ Campaign Coffers

“Power plant operators, gambling magnates, charter school backers, and trade unions are among the interests that gave almost $18 million to Pennsylvania’s top lawmakers last session, ahead of debates over policies that affect their industries.

Big donations influence who gets access to critical decision-makers, according to lobbyists versed in the way power works in Harrisburg.

“The expectation is that [a check] opens the door to a private conversation,” said one Harrisburg lobbyist. That conversation, like a meeting in the state Capitol office with the legislator or their top staff, could involve asking for a given bill to advance, change, or stall.” (Spotlight PA)

Elsewhere

Trump Moves Closer to Court Crisis. “Many top legal experts believe a full-blown constitutional showdown between President Trump and the courts is already here. Others are confident there’s still room to avoid one.” (Axios)

Reactions to Trump Executive Order to ‘Begin Dismantling Department of Education’ “What are Pennsylvania’s federal lawmakers saying about the order?” (PoliticsPA)

Keefer to Introduce Resolution Also Calling For Elimination of Department of Education. “Following yesterday’s Executive Order from the White House calling for the Secretary of Education to “take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education, state Sen. Dawn Keefer is planning to introduce a resolution that calls for the same to reaffirm Pennsylvania’s “sovereign authority” over its educational system.” (PoliticsPA)

Seven Takeaways From U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie’s Telephone Town Hall. “During the hour-long session, constituents asked about whether he supports cuts to Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare and how he felt about Elon Musk and DOGE firing federal employees and closing federal departments.” (Armchair Lehigh Valley)

Philly Congressman Dwight Evans On Road to Recovery Months After Stroke. “In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, Evans spoke with Lauren Mayk about his recovery, politics today and what’s next for his career.” (NBC Philadelphia)

State

2. In Swing-State Pennsylvania, A Latino-Majority City Looks Back at the 2024 Election

“Pennsylvania, with the largest electoral prize of all major swing states, was a coveted prize for Vice President Kamala Harris and then former-president Donald Trump in the 2024 race to the White House. It was predicted that the winner of the Keystone State was highly likely to win the entire election.

It was fitting for us to begin The 50 project by visiting Reading, PA. The majority Latino city inched a win for Harris, but ultimately Trump easily won Berks County, home to Reading, by 12 points and the state by more than 50% of the vote.

Many of the residents we spoke with pointed to the economy – the high cost of living – as the incentive to vote, but that wasn’t the only reason.” (The Fulcrum)

Elsewhere

Did Trump Reverse the Tide or Ride It? Voter Registration in PA. “In light of the success that statewide Republican candidates had in 2024, some analysts hint that Pennsylvania is headed the way of Florida, a one-time swing state that has become reliably Republican.” (Penn Capital-Star)

Trump’s Battles With Colleges Could Change American Culture For a Generation. “The outcome of this clash over the purpose of higher education stands to shape American culture for a generation or more.” (New York Times)

Elon Musk, Scott Presler Sound Alarm Over Republican Josh Parsons’ Chances in Tuesday’s State Senate Special Election. “Are Republicans actually worried about Tuesday’s special election in the bright red 36th Senate District?” (LNP)

Shapiro Unveils Results of Generative AI Pilot Program. “The findings revealed that employees had a highly positive experience, reporting an average time savings of 95 minutes per day while using ChatGPT for writing, research, summarization, and IT support.” (PoliticsPA)

Around The Commonwealth

3. End of Federal Relief Money Will Push Some PA Municipalities Off a Financial Cliff, Shapiro Admin Fears

“The Shapiro administration expects some Pennsylvania municipalities to become so financially distressed they could require state assistance as billions in federal stimulus dollars dry up.

State and local governments received unprecedented federal aid during the COVID-19 pandemic to cope with its impact on public health and the economy. The funding extended a lifeline to recipients during the emergency, as many spent their allocations to fill revenue gaps, but that help is now going away.” (Spotlight PA)

Elsewhere

PA Dairy Farms Produce a Billion Gallons of Milk Per Year. As Tariff Wars Rage, The Cows Could Be Stuck in the Middle. “In swing-state Pennsylvania, one treasured sector now closely watching the global tariff tit-for-tat is the dairy industry, which accounts for one of the state’s top agricultural exports and supports 52,000 jobs.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Krasner, Dugan Battle Over Old Accusations at DA Forum. “District Attorney Larry Krasner and retired Municipal Court judge Patrick Dugan took potshots and made insinuations about each other at an election forum in Center City Thursday night while seeming to largely agree on the priorities and policies the DA’s office should pursue.” (Billy Penn)

PA Rep. Wendy Fink, Invoking Trump, Threatens Funding Cuts For Eastern York Over Anti-LGBTQ+ Policy. “Many Eastern York residents turned out Thursday night to oppose the school district’s restrictions on what pronouns LGBTQ+ students use. But the opinion of someone who doesn’t live in the Wrightsville-area district, Republican state Rep. Wendy Fink, appealed to the school board’s far-right majority.” (York Dispatch)

Editorial

4. Speak Your Mind

• Philadelphia Bet Its Future On the ‘Meds and Eds’ Now Under Attack by DOGE. (Inga Saffron)
• A Generational Investment in Transit Would Be a Legacy Victory For PA Leaders. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• An Unserious President For An Unserious Nation. (Keith C. Burris)
• The Dismantling of the Department of Education is a Threat to Pennsylvania’s Students. (Deborah Gordon Klehr)
• In Defense of the City of Pittsburgh. (Christopher Briem)
• The Pandemic’s Lasting Impact on Education: A Five-Year Perspective. (Adrian Allan)
• Dismantling the Department of Education’s Civil Rights Protections Hurts Our Students. (Andrew Goretsky)
• The ‘Free World’ Is Gone and There’s No Turning Back. (James Kirchick)
• Is Pittsburgh’s Mayoral Primary Déjà Vu All Over Again? (Chris Nicholas)

1 Thing

5. National Cheesesteak Day

“Every March 24 America pays tribute to one of the all-time classic sandwiches — the cheesesteak. Much like national liberty itself, the cheesesteak is elegant, necessary, pure, and was born in Philadelphia. The cheesesteak rose from humble beginnings in South Philly to the cultural icon it is today: safely secure in the sandwich hall of fame. “Eat (ahem, read) on to celebrate National Cheesesteak Day.” (National Today)

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